La Pampa Grill

Worst restaurant i have ever been to. Short of writing an essay type review, i will keep this sort and sweet.

A group of us went there in August and in a few short words - i beg of you not to go there.

1. Do not eat the complimentary bread that is on the table - as it is not complimentary, you have to pay for it but they just dont tell you this

2. Rudest waiters and manager i have ever met

3. Took ages to order a drink

4. We were told to share a portion of chips when we had ordered 2

5. The small salad and large salad are apparently the same size with a significant price difference. Do not try ask the waiter or manager what the difference is as they just get aggressive and talk over you

6. If you order a steak / hamburger (main meal), you also have to order chips/side as the main meals do not come with chips/salad/anything

7. When the bill arrives, please check it. We were over charged for two bottles of wine and then they proceeded to argue with us about it.

Save your money and go somewhere that appreciates your business.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, October 02, 2008

Hi I m from ARGENTINA, and i tell you something, this restaurant has nothing to do with ARGENTINA

1- Meat cook in a grill???

2- Empanadas only one kind and fried???

3- Not Fresh Pasta or Pizza the best Legacy of Italy in Argentina still.

4- Decoration with no refernce to Argentina at ALL

5- Wrong translation and spelling in the menu in SPANISH!!!!

6- No Milanesas and many other dishes that makes argentina proud of their food!!!

Sorry but the service as well...Poor. Shame the Meat taste ok.
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César
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 3
Friday, July 04, 2008

I conscious of not writing a long winded review and I must confess I’m not one who’d normally write a restaurant review, but after going to La Pampa on Battersea Rise – I felt obliged to do so. I must confess I did read the various reviews on this website, ignored the bulk of them and was looking forward to a big juicy Argentinean steak. After booking in advanced a table for 3, we were shown to a table for 2 that had an extra chair put on the end. We were told this was because they were busy and although there were 3 four seating tables empty, we were told there was nothing they could do as they were also booked. We tried to be polite and not kick up a fuss, but this table was right at the back and felt like we were literally sitting in the kitchen. We were told there was no other option and had to enjoy a combination of bright florescent lights over our heads and some kitchen hand peering though a window literally on our table every two minutes, it was by far the worst place to be sat. It also became very apparent the strong smell of bleach in the restaurant. I’m all for a clean restaurant, but it smelt like I was eating my dinner in a toilet. Starters were ok, the steaks were to be fair amazing (for £17.95 I’d hope so) and the Argentinean Pinot Noir was better than most French bottles I’ve tried (but also more expensive than most French bottles I’ve tried). So is this a good review or bad review? Well I can safely say, although the steak and wine were exceptional, this was probably one of the worst meals I’ve ever had. It was halfway though eating my steak I dropped a slice of bread on the floor. There was hardly any room on our table and I was distracted by the 2 empty four seated table next to us. I had nowhere else to put the bread except back in the basket it came in. So you can imagine the feeling of guilt I had as well as anger when I saw the waiter take the break basket off my table a minute later, throw the last remaining slice (that had picked up all sorts of cr*p from the floor) into the fresh bread basket. I couldn’t believe they were recycling the left over bread, what was worse (and this is what made me leave my steak) the manager and 2 waiting staff were using there hands to take the bread from the large fresh bread bucket into the smaller baskets to go on customers tables. On its own, not a major hygiene issue – but it was 9pm on a Saturday evening, the waiter and manager were both sweating and wiping their foreheads clean of sweat with their hands. Watching them then put their hands into the bread bin just made me angry for the complete disregard for their customer’s hygiene.

I also couldn’t help but notice the steaks and the corn were cooked on the same grill, not a problem for me – but I was with my vegetarian girlfriend and you have to respect that if you order a vegetarian dish – it should not have come into contact with any meat.

We paid our bill and left without leaving a tip, which I haven’t done in a long time.

I returned to the restaurant three days later, to complain about the meal I had. I was upset as I’d moved into the area and hoped it would be a good local steak house. I saw the manager who was there that night and he heard me out. He replied by saying it wasn’t his fault, but the owner has his own way of running the restaurant and he’s told his staff he’s been running a restaurant for many years and he will run the restaurant his way without compromise.

I will never set foot in either of the La Pampa restaurants ever again, it’s ironic that with a restaurant that smells of bleach, there basic disrespect for hygiene is appalling.
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Neil
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 3
Monday, March 17, 2008

This is one of the worse restaurant I have ever been to in London.

IN THE WAY OF THE DOOR

I was heading for a calm night out, I will never go back there. The restaurant is really small, you don't feel at ease once inside. But that's already too late, you re in! First of all, we were offered a table right next to the door, completely in the way. We asked to change and were offered a new table in the lobby (so in the way as well).

RUDE WAITERS

The waiters were rude, made unpleasant jokes and were clearly only interested in forcing us to consume things we did not want. We were brought bread and butter (charged later at £1.95) that we did not asked. We ordered a coke and a bottle of sparkling water but only large bottles were available so we said we would share a bottle of water....we were brought a coke and a bottle of water!

POOR FOOD

The choice of food was poor. Out of the three steaks on offer, at 9.00pm, only one was still available. There was no appealling starter. The meat was cooked correctly but inconsistently. My friend and I had the same dish and this looked completely different. Also if you choose the Sirloin, you d better order two to make a proper main course, the portion was ridiculously small for a £15.95 dish (and I am not a male!)
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Yesterday''s customer
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Thursday, January 17, 2008

This is a brief review of the Battersea Rise 'La Pampa'.

My quarter of stringy chicken was only £7.50, although obviously for that price you don't get any vegetables included.

My tinned palm hearts were quite tasty, and I enjoyed the accompanying thousand island dressing -- great value at £3.50.

The staff were unsmiling and nervy, and the older chap who took our order couldn't be bothered to ask what side orders we wanted, so he just made something up.

Some of the more youthful tried to be a bit charming, but they didn't quite pull it off. They were nervy too.

They very helpfully included a service charge on our bill, so that we didn't have to work it out.

I wouldn't recommend this place. And I learnt a lesson from reading the other negative reviews on here: don't read reviews for restaurants you are obligated to visit for one reason or another.
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Andy
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Monday, January 07, 2008

Can i just say, I have been going to this place for years and i have never had a bad meal, bad service or anything ??? It is a lovely place to go for a romantic meal and well priced too.

Forget the negative feedback and go there its Fantastic !!!!!!
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James Funge
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The Pampa grill on Northcote Rd (not Battersea Rise) is brilliant. The service is great- friendly and fast and the steak is succulent and tender and always cooked perfectly. The atmosphere is great too- rustic and down to earth with red candles on the tables. I have been going for years and it is consistently good.

ok so the starters aren't great and I'm not sure about pudding but I go to a steak restaurant for the steak.

I have eaten argentinian steak in a top steak restaurant in argentina and the pampa grill is more than a match for the meal i had there.

The only thing i can think is that the negative reviews are for the Pamapa grill on Battersea rise.
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Eos Chater
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, October 01, 2007

I can honestly say the service was appalling (a waiter continually metnioning "tip" and forgetting our order), and the food was pretty dire. One of my party ordered a salad which turned out to be half an iceberg lettuce, and our seasonal vegetables were courgette and brocolli. The wait staff were rude and unhelpful. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. The only good thing was the red argentinian wine - which I could have purchased at Waitrose.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, August 17, 2007

I was very dissappointed.

The steaks were burnt on the side! I think the people that have given a good rating here, have never tasted a good steak!

The Service was very bad and unfriendly. Not very argentinian!

Atmosphere was normal.
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Mario
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, August 08, 2007

I was very surprised by some of the negative reviews...I have been going to La Pampa regularly in the last year and can honestly say that on every occasion the steaks have been fantastic! I would rate it the best steak/value for money in London...
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Michael
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, August 03, 2007